Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shot two Bangladeshi men dead and critically injured two cattle traders in two separate incidents near Kurigram and Chapainawabganj borders early yesterday.

The deceased were Ayub Ali, 35, and Amir Islam, 28, sons of late Nur Mohammad of South Algar Char under Raumari upazila in Kurigram. The injured were Abdul Jalil, 28, and Abdul Kader, 32, of Chanshikari under Bholahat upazila in Chapainawabganj.

Our Kurigram correspondent reports: BDR and locals said the two brothers--Ayub Ali and Amir Islam--went to the nearest border from their house around 12:15am. On spotting them, BSF fired at least 11 rounds leaving the two spot dead on no-man's-land. BSF later dragged the body into their territory, they added.

Baliamari BOP Company Commander of BDR sent a protest letter to BSF around 6:00am asking them to return the bodies. A flag meeting between BDR and BSF was held at Algar Char border no-mans area where the police of both countries were present. In the meeting the BDR Company Commander Subedar Jalal Uddin represented Bangladesh and BSF Deputy Commander of 1 Battalion KM Mukherjee represented India.

The BDR Company Commander told The Daily Star that the Indian police returned the bodies to our police in presence of BSF and BDR personnel. The Raumari police handed over the bodies to the victims' younger brother Azizul Haque around 4:00 pm, he added.

Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports: Two cattle traders--Abdul Jalil and Abdul Kader-- were injured as BSF of Indian Krishnapur camp opened fire around 4:00am yesterday.

The victims were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

Acting commanding officer Major Aftab Uddin of Naogaon 43 Rifles Battalion said BSF members of Krishnapur camp fired at least 14 rounds on the men as they entered Bangladesh territory with cattle around 4:00am. They sustained bullet wounds and later were rescued and sent to hospital by the locals, he added.

The deceased was identified as Khalilur Rahman, 35, son of Ekramul Haque of Boalia in Kalaroa upazila.

BSF men of Khalisha camp under Swarupnagar Police Station of India opened fire on some cattle traders while they were trying to enter India with their cattle near Khalisha leaving Khalilur dead on the spot, locals said.

Our Lalmonirhat correspondent adds: BSF men killed a Bangladeshi fisherman at Daikhowa of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat near the main pillar No 903 Friday morning.

BSF took away the body to India. The victim was identified as Rashedul Islam, 30, son of Akhter Hossain of Daikhowa.

As Rashedul went to Maldah Chhora river which is located within Bangladesh territory near the main pillar No 903 in the morning to catch fish, BSF members on patrol of Lal Bazar camp of 46 No BSF Battalion opened fire on him leaving him dead on the spot.

The BSF members took away the body to India, BDR and local sources said.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) of Daikhowa BOP company camp sent a protest letter to Indian Lal Bazar camp BSF the same day. The letter demanded immediate handover of the body to BDR.

Referring to the BSF reply BDR said the body would be handed over to BDR after completion of its post-mortem in India.

Commanding Officer of Lalmonirhat 31 Rifles Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Golam Ambiya acknowledged the matter and said the situation on Daikhowa border is under control.